Quick action might have saved teen at boot camp, panel says

By Matthew Franck

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

A fatality review panel has concluded that a death at a private teen boot camp might have been prevented had a 15-year-old boy been given more immediate medical treatment for a spider bite.

But whether the operators of the Thayer Learning Center Boot Camp and Boarding School face criminal charges for medical neglect remains uncertain.

"As of right now, it is a pending investigation, " said Caldwell County prosecutor Jason Kanoy.

Roberto Reyes of Santa Rosa, Calif., died on Nov. 3, less than a week after being enrolled at the boot camp, located in Kidder, Mo. Medical examiners have said his death was probably the result of a spider or insect bite. Various bruises also were found on his body.

A child fatality review panel, made up of state and county officials, issued a report last week saying that "earlier medical treatment at the Thayer Learning Center may have prevented this fatality."

Only the summary of the panel's findings is public record. The complete findings have been forwarded to Kanoy's office, which is still awaiting more thorough forensic test results in order to move forward with the case.

Gus Kolilis, the head of Missouri's State Technical Assistance Team, which assists in inquiries of child deaths, said complete findings won't be sent to the prosecutor until early next year.

At issue is whether boot camp operators ignored serious medical symptoms related to the spider bite before calling an ambulance. The boot camp's director has previously said he believes the boot camp did all it could to assist the boy.

Caldwell County Sheriff Kirby Brelsford said he believes the signs of a spider bite could have easily been mistaken for simple fatigue, perhaps resulting from the physical activity required of students at the boot camp.

The parents of the boy have declined interviews in recent weeks concerning their son's death.

The boot camp, which enrolls about 100 teenagers, employs no medical staff but contracts with a local physician.

Several parents and former employees have recently criticized the boot camp for using extreme discipline and ignoring medical ailments.

Missouri is home to several teen reform programs, many of which are drawn to the state because of a lack of regulation.

The fatality review panel in the boot camp death calls for new legislation giving juvenile authorities and social service workers greater access to such programs.

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